Peace

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (Col 3v15).

God’s peace does truly defy understanding (Phil 4v7). It can be found amidst hostility, strife, conflict, grief, terror, trauma, trials, confusion, anxiety, overwhelm, suffering … whether alone or with others, no matter age, gender, education, culture or background … this peace is available and real.

The verse above however, starts with the word ‘let’, then follows shortly after with the word ‘rule’. So despite this peace being freely available, it is only a guarantee following a choice and decision by ourselves. We have to ‘let’ it in and then let it ‘rule’. It’s not a foregone conclusion that it’s always going to be our present reality despite our circumstances and mood. You will know as well as I do, that we can often feel stressed and anxious, overwhelmed with cares or grief, with peace seeming like an eternity away … we fret, compromise, criticise, become angry, seek solace elsewhere and yet all we want is peace.

Why oh why do we often choose human options to satisfy our longing for inner peace rather than bathing in the transcendent peace of God through Christ, freely given and waiting for us?

So now let us “let the peace of Christ” fill us up, pervade our very being and allow it to rule our hearts and minds so that we exude it out to others. Real peace is tangible, attractive and influential. This powerful, strong peace is there, right now for us to know in reality … let us tap into such a glorious resource and blessing.

Ingrid x